Portable temperature-controlled shipping container



A118225 3942 H. F. ZIMMERMAN 2,293,961

ORTABLE TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLD SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Dec. 21. 19:59 4 shehets-Sheet 1 Aug. 25, 1942. H. F. ZIMMERMAN 2,293,953

PORTABLE TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED `SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Dec. 2l, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 25, 1942. H. F. ZIMMERMAN 2,293,951

v PORTABLE TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Dec. 21, 1939 4 Sheets-Sheei'I 3 .f2 @ff J6 I All@ 25, 1942 H. F. ZIMMERMAN 2,293,961

vPOR'IABLE TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED SHIPPING CONTAINER Filed Dec. 2l, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Aug. 25, 1942 PORTABLE TEMPERATURE-CONTROLLED SHIPPING CONTAINER Howard F. Zimmerman, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Loretta M. Zimmerman, Chicago, Ill.

Application December 21, 1939, Serial No. 310,380

5 Claims.

My invention relates to portable temperaturecontrolled shipping containers and has special reference to a temperature-controlled shipping container wherein it is desired to maintain a predetermined temperature in the storage of perishr able commodities during shipment, the container being preferably equipped with detachable rolling supports for the front edge of the container and with non-detachable rolling supports for the rear edge.

'I'his application is a continuation in part of my prior application, Serial No. 165,058, filed September 22, 1937.

The use of a shipping container has many advantages and generally promotes economy and eiilciency in railroad shipment for certain classes of freight. Each individual container is small enough to be carried on an automobile truck and preferablyis of a size approaching in length the width of an ordinary freight car and is of a height and width such as not to prevent road transportation thereof through city streets.

'Ihis container has the advantage that it can be loaded along with other merchandise freight in a box car, and only that portion of the freight within the container needs to be refrigerated.

Further, it is possible to load one of the shipping containers at the source of supply, convey the container to the freight station by truck, ship the container with other like containers on a freightJ car, and then haul the container from the receiving freight yard to its destination by truck, thus reducing to a minimum the handling of the goods and the danger of the commodity spoiling should the same be perishable.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved container of the type indicated above in which the container is provided with means for quick detachable engagement with a roller-supported lifting jack and is provided with permanently mounted rollers on the edge opposite the connection for the lifting jack whereby the jack may bequickly put in place with respect to the container, the edge of the container elevated by means of the jack, and the roller-supported jack used in transporting the container.

A further object of my invention is to provide an improved arrangement of heating element for maintaining thefdesired temperature during cold weather.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved heat insulation means for the container.

A further object of my invention is to provide a shipping container having an improved receptacle for the refrigerant.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the description and claims.

In the drawings, in which an embodiment of my invention is shown- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a shipping container; 1

Fig. 2 is a detail side elevational view showing the quick detachable connection between the container and portable lifting jack;

Fig. 3' is a vertical sectional view showing the heat insulation for the container and showing the receptacle for the refrigerant;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view showing the front of the refrigerant receptacle;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail viewshowing a layer of heat insulating material used in making the container;

Fig. 6 is a section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a vertical section showing another form of container;

Fig. 8 is a front view of the container shown in Fig. 7:

Fig. 9 is a side view of the container of Fig. 7, showing the container being moved;

Fig. 10 is a vertical section showing the coinbustion heater;

Fig. l1 is a horizontal section on line H--il of Fig. 7; and l Fig. 12 is a side elevation of an insulated block which may be used to replace the heater when it is not in use.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, comprises a generally rectangular portable shipping container I which may have any desired loading capacity, for example, cubic feet, capable of sustaining a load limit up to 6,000 pounds, and a roller jack 2 having a quick detachable engagement with the front edge of the shipping container to facilitate moving the container into and out of a car and moving vit from place to place.

The portable container is providedwith a hinged door 3 in front, with two supporting rollers 4 adjacent its rear edge and with two supporting legs 5 addacent its front edge. The top, bottom, vertical walls, and door of the container are provided with suitable heat insulation. Adjacent the upper rear edge of the container a refrigerant receptacle 6 (Figs. 3 and 4) is mounted, having a hinged door 1 on the front side for the insertion of a refrigerant, such as dry ice or ordinary ice, and having heat insulaf tion in its top, vertical walls, and hinged door. The bottom 8 of the refrigerant receptacle is of thin metal or other suitable heat-conducting material so that the air adjacent this lower edge of the receptacle will be kept cool and will descend as it is cooled, thus keeping up the circulation of air inside the container and keeping the entire body of air inside the container uniformly cool.

In order to make the container l suitable for use in the winter, when it may be desired to keep the merchandise in the container from freezing, an electrical heating element 9 may be secured to the door 3, the construction lbeing such that when the door is closed the circuit to the heating element 9 will be closed and when the door is open the circuit to the heating element will be broken. For this purpose, the leads i3 for the heating element terminate in suitable contacts ii on the edge of the door which engage corresponding contacts l2. on the door frame i3 connected with a suitable outlet box iii on the container. This arrangement automatically prevents loss of current when the door is open and during which time it is of no advantage to maintain current in the heating element.

The heat insulating partitions, both oi the refrigerant receptacle and of the container itself, comprise inner and outer sheets i5 and it oi' heat insulating material such as plyboard spaced apart a substantial distance, and a plurality of intermediate 4sheets il of heat insulation material between the inner and outer sheets l and it parallel thereto and spaced from each other and from the walls. Each of the intermediate sheets il comprises a supporting network I8 (Figs. 5 and 6) of fibrous material such as jute, a layer iii of asphalt or the like in which this network is embedded, two. layers 2li of brous material such as paper, and two layers ti of metallic 'heat-reflecting material, one on each side of the asphalt layer and secured thereto. The metallic heatreiiecting material may be aluminum foil, or any similar suitable material which will reflect the heat rays and prevent their passage through the sheets of heat insulation material.

Suitable spacing strips 22 may be provided between the sheets l'l of heat insulation material and between these sheets and the inner and outer walls l5 and i6. The refrigerant receptacle 6 may be supported in the container l by means of straps 23 secured to the top and rear of the container as shown in Fig. 3.

In use, a form of refrigerant, such as a package of dry ice 24, is placed in the refrigerant receptacle 6; the perishable goods to be shipped are placed in the container l, and the door 3 is closed to enable the refrigerant in the receptacle 6 to maintain the desired temperature within the container I. The container may be readily moved from one place to another by means of the roller jack 2. To connect the roller jack 2 with the container I the socket 25 in the roller jack 2 is brought into registration with the pin 26 on the bracket 21 on .the container, and the handle 28 of the jack is worked up and down to cause the pin 26 on the .container to enter the socket 25 of the jack and effect a substantial pivotal connection between the roller jack 2 and the container I. The handle of the roller jack is worked up and legsl 5 of the container oi the supporting surface so that the container is then supported by the rear wheels l and by the roller Jack 2. The container can then be moved from place to place -by the use oi the roller jack, the handle 28 of the Jack being used as a tongue or handle for moving the container around. When the container has been brought to the desired position, the roller jack may be removed by pressing down on the foot pedal 29, causing the lowering of the socket 25 of the jack suiiciently to separate it from the pin 25 on the container.

The construction shown in Figs. '7 to i2, inclusive. is like that just described so far as the roller jack and connections are concerned. In addition, however, the construction of Figs. "l to 12, inclusive, includes a combustion heater 30, a different arrangement of supporting wheels and legs, a different refrigerant container and associated parts, and a differentarrangement of insulation. This container is provided with a combustion heater in order to enable appreciable shipments to be handled in cold weather. For this purpose an opening 3l is made in the oor of the container into which iits a heat insulated receptacle or heater well 32 in which the combustior'i heater is placed. A door t3 may be provided and be hinged as at at to the spacing strips on the floor of the car, affording access to --the heater when desired.

The heater container is supportedin the opening by means of an4 outwardly extending ange 5 resting on the iioor of the shipping con tainer.

With this construction the heater is supported upon the floor of the car by the outwardly extending iianges S5, the upper edges of which are protected from the weight of the load contained within the container by the upwardly extending sills or spacing strips 3S.

This effectively prevents drainage from the bottom of the container into the heater well 32 of any moisture or drippings which might fall from the material being stored. Accidental extinguisliment of the heater from this source is thus prevented.

The heater container may be lined inside and out with metal between which suitable insulating material is placed. Openings 3l may be provided in the bottom of this receptacle for the admission of air for combustion.

The heater 30 may comprise a cylindrical drum having a horizontal supporting grate 38 extending thereacross and charcoal, charcoal briquettes or other slow burning combustible material can belplaced in the upper part of the drum through an opening in the top closed by a cover 39, and kindling may be placed under the grate through an opening in the lower portion of the heater and which is closed by lan adjustable draft controlling door 60. The heater rests on spacer members li underneath, and is held against lateral movement by means of spring spacer members 42 embracing its sides. A suitable handle may be provided to facilitate insertion and removal of the heater with respect to the container if desired. The cover 33 has insulation 33a on its under side and is somewhat spaced frommthe upper edge of the container so that the warm air from the heater may circulate upwardly and thence laterally between the cover and upper edge of the heater well into the spaces between the spacing strips.

It will be noted that the container for the heater is disposed a substantial distance in front clown a number of times sulcient to raise the of the rear supporting wheels and in close proximity to the front of the container so that when the lifting jack is attached as shown in Fig. 9, and the container is being moved over an upand-down path, as, for example, from a freight car onto a platform, the heater will be lifted up two or three inches higher than when the Jack is ot attached so that the heater receptacle is not in danger of striking obstructions as would be the case if the heater were otherwise located. It will also be noted that the top of the heater is underneath the level of the tops 'of the sills or spacing strips 36 of the shipping container so that it does not interfere-with the positioning of articles in the container or their removal therefrom. However, the upper edge of the heater well is positioned suiiiciently high above the floor of the container to prevent leakage from the goods into the heater well.

As shown in Fig. 8, a plurality of wheels are l provided at the rear of the container so that it may safely be moved over either wide or narrow gangplanks when being transported from place to place as from a box car to a loading platform, etc. The outer wheels 43 are effective to support the load when passing over wide gangplanks while the inner wheels 4I permit the container to be hauled over relatively narrow gangplanks. As shown in Fig. 7, the container may be provided at its front end with a pair of supporting legs 45 upon which the container stands when it is stored and while being transported in a box car, truck or the like, from place to place. These legs may be positioned at the outermost lower corners of the front of thecontainer, asvillustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, and are preferably provided with some hold-down means whereby the legs may be secured to the floor upon which the container rests to -prevent undesired movement of the container during shipment. In the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the legs 45 are shown provided with forwardly and outwardly projecting feet 46 which provide a ledge through which securing means 41 may pass and'be anchored in the floor 48 upon which the container rests.

The container illustrated in Figs. 7 to 12, inclusive, is similar to that previously disclosed in Figs. l to 6. inclusive, except that the air spaces between the muitiiayer partition as of Fig. 11-

are interconnected by passages so as to provide continuous interconnected air spaces surrounding the container.

In the upper portion of the container 'a refrigerant chamber is provided having a side wall 5| and an inclined bottom wall 52. An opening is are being transported, dry ice in the amount of 200 pounds will sufciently protect the contents of the container. These figures are based upon a normal period of protection of 'I2 hours.

The moisture resulting from the melting of the wet ice within the ice chamber is directed by the sloping bottom 52 of the ice chamber to the holes 54 through whichr it drains to be collected in a subjacent trough 55, from. which it is conducted to the outside of the container by any suitable drain pipe 56. The moisture precipitated upon the outside of the wall 5l and bottom 52 is also directed into the trough 55. traveling alongd the sloping under surface of the bottom 52. whereby leakage upon the floor of the container is prevented. l

When so-called dry ice or solidified CO2 is employed as a refrigerant the gases developed during the melting of the refrigerant may be conducted through suitable connections between the refrigerant chamber and the spaced portions of the container walls. 'I'he gas may then circulate around the entire container passing through the openings 50.

Asy partof the container insulation, sheets of material 58 having heat reflecting properties may be employed.

When it is desired to refrigerate the products being transported in the container and the combustion heater is not employed it may be bodily removed and the insulated block 51 shown in Fig. 12 may be substituted. 'I'his effectively bloltlzks the admission of heat through the heater we From the foregoing description it will be apparent to'those skilled in the art that various modifications thereof may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention and it is desired, therefore, that the same -be limited only by the scope of the prior art and the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A shipping container comprising a heat insulated receptacle of a size capable of being moved through the doorway of a standard railway box car and having a substantially fiat floor, a door affording access to the container, wheels for supporting the rear end of the receptacle, legs for supporting the front end of the receptacle, a connector adjacent the front end of the receptacle for connection-with a roller lifting jack, a well for a combustion heater located adjacent the jack connection substantially beneath the floor line of the receptacle and a substantial distance in front of the axis of the wheels, the bottom of said well being raised by'said roller lifting jack sufficiently to clear all customary obstacles such as the end of an inclined ramp, 'said heater well being accessible from the inside of the shipment receptacle for insertion and removal of the heater.

2. A shipping container comprising a heat insulated receptacle of a size capable of being moved through the doorway of a standard railway box car and having a substantially fiat floor, a door affording access to the container, wheels for supporting the rear end of the receptacle,A

legs for supporting the front end of the receptacle, a connector adjacent the front end of the receptacle for connection with a roller lifting jack, a well for a combustion heater located adjacent the jack connection substantially beneath the floor line of the receptacle and a substantial distance in front of the axis of the wheels, the bottom of said well being raised by said roller lifting jack sufficiently to clear all customary obstacles such as the end of an inclined ramp, said heater well being accessible from the inside of the shipment receptacle for insertion and removal of the heater, said heater well having a removable cover substantially flush with the oor way box car and having a substantially ilat floor, a door affording access to the container, wheels for supporting the rear end o! the receptacle. legs tor supporting the front end oi the receptacle, a connector adiacent the front end of the receptacle for connection with a roller lifting jack, said door having spaced horizontal strips to permit air circulation between the cargo and the door of the receptacle, a well for a combustion heater located adjacent the jack connection substantially beneath the oor line and a. substantial distance in front of the axis of the wheels, the bottom of said well being raised by said roller lifting jack suilciently to clear all customary obstacles such as the end of an inclined ramp, said heater well being accessible from inside of the shipment receptacle for insertion and removal of the heater.

4. A shipping container comprising a heat insulated receptacle of a size capable of being moved through the doorway of a standard railway box car and having a. substantially dat iioor, a door aiording access to the container, wheels for supporting the rear end of the receptacle,

legs tor supporting the front end of the recepmenacer tacle, a connector adjacent the iront end of the receptacle for connection with a roller lifting Jack, a well for a. combustion heater located sd- Jacent the Jack connection substantially beneath the iloor line and a substantial distance in front of the axis of the wheels. the bottom of said well being raised by said roller lifting jack sumciently to clear all customary obstacles su'ch as the end ot an inclined ramp.

5. A shipping container comprising a heat insulated receptacle of a size capable of being moved through the doorway of a standard railway box car and having a substantially nat door. a door affording access to the container, a well for a combustion heater located substantially beneath the ooiline, said heater well being accessible from inside ot the shipment receptacle for insertion and removal of the heater, said iioor having spaced horizontal strips extending adjacent the edge oi the well, a heat insulating cover for the well spaced from the periphery of the well to provide an annular peripheral airflow passage from the well to the spaces between said spaced strips.

` HOWARD F. ZIMMERMAN. 

